Cover for books, binders, and the like



Sept. 11, 1928. 2 1,684,335

P. o. UNGER COVER FOR BOOKS, BINDERS, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec; 15, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 1 6 I PQZLZ -0- 075767;

Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,335

P. O. UNGER ,QIGOVBR FOR BOOKS, BINDERS, AND THE LIKE Filed DecL13, 19243' Sheets-Sheet 2 sq. 11,1928. I P. O. UNGER COVER FO R BOOKS, BINDERS,AND THE LIKE Filed Dec.l3, 1924 s sheetsanai Paul (1. 022/36 PatentedSept. 11, 1928.

1,684,335 UNITED STATES rATENToFF cE.

PAUL o. UNGER, or SYRACUSE, nnw YORK, asslsnoa'ro MCMILLAN 1200KCOMPANY,

or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK; A CORPORATIGN or NEW YORK.

COVER FOR BOOKS, BINDERS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 13,- 1924.- Serial No. 755,734.

This invention pertains to covers for books and binders, .andis moreparticularly intended for use with loose leaf binders, though in nosense restricted thereto. Stated in general terms, the inventionconsists in a cover comprising two cover-boards; an intermediate backmember formed of sheet steel or other sufficiently strong and rigidmaterial; and a flexible connection for said boards and back member,consisting of tough, strong material or fabric such as leather, canvas,duck, or the like, portions of which pass alternately to opposite sidesof the back memher and, preferably, also to opposite sides of thecover-boards. To enable such passage of these portions alternately toopposite faces of the parts, the flexible material, if in the form of asingle integral sheet, is transversely slitted inward from itslongitudinal edges andin its mid portion; or in the case of two sheets,is transversely slitted inward from either or both edges. The slits inthe difierent portions of the flexlble member may be in alinement oroffset, as preferred. Where the slits extend to the outer edges of theflexible sheet, they produce a series of boardattaching flaps orportions, whether asingle flexible sheet or two sheets be employed; butin the case of the integral sheet slitted at its edges and in itsmid-portion, the mid-portion is made by the slits to constitute a seriesof parallel bands between Which the back member-is passed and held. l

he flexible sheet, or the flaps and bands thereof, may be glued,cemented, riveted,- or otherwise made fast to theback member and to thecover-boards. In some cases the flaps or boardattaching portions may beleft unslitted and applied to one face only of the cover-boards,preferably the inner face. It is likewise practicable to divide theflexible sheet into a series of distinct bands by cutting completelyacross the same from one longitudinal edge to the other, or to employstrips woven of suitable Width, cut to length and laid side by side, inWhich latter case successive bands would pass respectively from theinner face of one cover-board over the outer face of the back member tothe inner face of the other cover-board, and from the outer face of onecover-board over the inner face of the back member to the outer face ofthe other cover-board. Whether integral or otherwise, the flexibleelement constitutes in effect one transversely slitted sheet.-

By reason of alternate bands passing across oppos te faces of the backmember, said memher is held securely in place, and stress upon one endor section of any given band will cause the opposite end of such bandand the cover-board to which such other end is'secured, to draw againstthe edge of the back member, and hence to offer great resistance tobeingloosened or detached from said back member or from the cover-board.The bolding capacity of the bands or sections is of course furtherenhanced or insured by cen'ient-ing or otherwise securing them to theback member. Similarly, by carrying the board-attaching sections-orflaps alternately to the inner and outer faces of the coverboarde,tendency of theboards to stri p off or pull clear of the flexible sheet,or vice versa, is resisted and prevented. 'lhis firm and secure mode ofholding the back member and attaching the cover-boards is of great inportance 1n the case of books and binders designed to hold a largenumber of sheets, signatures, pamphlets, catalogues, or the like,

and particularly such as are consultedand ularly for loose leaf binders,and hence show the back member provided with eyes or-loops and clips ortongues to facilitate attachment to, orof, other parts making up suchbinder. In these drawings Figure l is an inner face vieW of a coverIaidopen and having both the mid-width portion and the marginalor flapportionsof the flexible sheet divided, the board-attaching portions soformed being carried respectively to theinner and outer. faces of thecover boards;

Fig. 2, a cross section on the line 2'2'of -Fig.l;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary view of: the flexible sheet Showing the dividinglines extending across the mid and lateral portions in aline-v ment witheach other; v

Fig. 4,11 similar view showing the divisions of the flaps 0rboard-attaching portions slitted on lines intermediate of orin staggeredrelation to those of the mid-portion;

Fig. 5, an outer face view of a cover laid open, showing the flexiblesheet made of two sections, each having a continuous board-attachingportion and a divided band forming portion, successive bands of eachsection being carried alternately to opposite faces of the back member,those of one section alternating with those of the other on both facesof the back member and hence covering both faces thereof;

Fig. 6, an enlarged transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8, fragmentary elevations of the two sections of theflexible sheet shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9, a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the bands on the outer faceof the back member divided mid-way between the boardattaching sections;

Fig. 10, an enlarged cross section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a view of the flexible sheet slitted or divided in itsmid-width portion, and adapted to have the back member threaded over andunder successive bands thereof; and Fig. 12, a fragmentary face View ofthe cover shown in Fig. 11, but with the outer or board-attachingportions of the flexible sheet divided, alternate bands of each suchportion being carried to opposite faces of the cover-boards.

In these drawings, 1 and 2 designate respectively the two cover-boards;3 the intermediate back member; and 4: the flexible sheet or element asa whole, said flexible element constituting the connection between thecover-boards, the flaps or board-attaching sections of the flexiblesheet being designated in Figs. -1'to 4t inclusive by the numerals 5 and6, and the intermediate or connecting bands which are carried acrossopposite faces of the back member 3 being designated re spectively bythe numerals 7 and 8. It will be noted on referring to Figs. 1 and 2,that the flaps or board-attaching sections 5 of the flexible sheet orelement 4 are secured to the outer faces of the cover-boards 1 and 2,while the intermediate bands 7 are carried across the inner face of theback member 3 and that the corresponding flaps or board-attachingsections 6 are secured to the inner faces of said cover-boards, whilethe intermediate bands 8 of such flexible sheet are carried across theouter face of said back member3.

By reason of this arrangement the flexible material is carried inopposite directions across and in contact with the longitudinal edges ofthe back member, as seen in Fig. 2, so that stress or pull upon eitherend of any flap or board attaching section 5 or 6 will be resisted bythe secure attachment to the back member 3 of the intermediate bands 7or 8, and if the attachment to such back member be loosened, stress onsuch bands will draw the cover-boards against' one or both edges of saidback member. Similarly, any stress upon either cover-board tending topull it away from theboard-attaching sections 5 will be resisted by theopposed sections 6 securely attached to the opposite face of thecover-boards, and conversely, any stress or pull tending to pull thecover-boards loose from the board-attaching sections 6 will in likemannerbe resisted by the sections 5.

' As shown in Figs. land 2, the back member- 3 isprovided with inwardlyprojecting loops,

eyes or staples 9 and spurs or lips 10, cut and pressed inward from thebody of the back member. and serving as a convenient means of attachmentto, or of, the sheets, signature, pamphlet, or catologue-holdingpartsofthe complete book or binder. .These loops or eyes 9 and spurs 10 aresuch as are commonly used in loose leaf binders now in extensive use,but are illustrated to show a cover sufficiently complete for use in orwith present binders or bindings. a

In Figs. 5 and 6 the cover-boards and the back member are againrespectively design ated by the numerals 1, 2 and 3, the back memberbeing provided with the loops or eyes 9 and spurs 10. P'designates theflexible sheetor element, which is here shown as divided into two mainportions the outeror marginal portions of which constitute theboard-attaching sections which are secured tot-he coverboards inanyconvenient manner, while the remaining portions constituting themid-field of the complete or two-part sheet et are slitted to form bands11 and 12, projectingrespectively from the two sheet sections 4*. The

Inn 1 bands 11. and 12 of each sheet section are carried in alternationto the inner and outer faces respectively of the back member 3, and arealternated on each face of said back member so that if the topmost band11 of one sheet section 4 be carried across andsecured to the outer faceof the back member 3, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the uppermost band12 of the other sheet section 4" will be carried across the inner faceof said back member in alinement with said band 11, and so on forsuccessive bands throughoutthe length of the back member. Thisalternation will occur on both;

the inner and the outer faces of the back member 3, but in reverse orderas indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, which show respectively the left andright hand sections of the flexible sheet 4, V

the relative positions ofthe bands 11 and 12 being indicated by legendsthereon, and it being understood that the bands of the two sections liein overlapping relation in the completed cover on opposite faces of theback member.

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the same general idea, in which 1 and2 indicate Fig. 10. One set of these bands, (14 in the illustrationsgiven), are cross-divided at or about their midlength as shown in Figs.9, 10, l1 and 12, so that the back member 3 may be laid upon the bands13 of sheet 4, in its proper relative position thereto, while the bands(ill 14, previously opened outward, can by reason of their divided formhe laid over the face of said back member opposite that which is placedin contact with the bands 13. This avoids the necessity of threading thebit-cl; member over and under alternate bands, which involves somelittle delay and inconvenience, particularly if glue or cement beapplied either to the bands or to the back members previous topositioning the latter. Fig. 12 shows theouter or board-attachingsections 4: of Figs. 9 and 11 transversely divided at convenientintervals and preferably in staggered relation to the dividing lines ofthe midwidth of the flexible sheet, alternate bands 15 formed by suchdividing or slitting of the outer portions of the flexible sheet beingcarried to the inner and outer faces of the cover-boards 1 and 2, andsecured thereto by glue or other adhesive.

It is to be understood that the matter of dividing the board-attachingsections of the flexible sheet or connecting element so that alternatesections may be passed respectively to the inner and outer faces of thecoverboards, is optional with all embodiments of the invention here setforth, and it is not deemed necessary to illustrate it in all figures,since where the covers are to be used with relatively light contents,such attachment to both faces of the cover boards is not essen-,

tial. It is, however, a matter of very considerable importance in largercovers and binders, designed to protect an assemblage of leaves,signatures, pamphlets, catalogues, or papers of considerable bulk andweight.

As before indicated, any well-known or usual means of attachment of theflexible ele ment to the cover-boards and to the intermediate backmember may be adopted, such as gluing, cementing, riveting, stitching orthe like.

It is obvious that two or morebands or two or more flaps orboartbattaching portions in immediate succession, might be carried tovthe same face of the back member or to the same face of a cover-board,without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. In otherwords, it is not essential that the bands or the flaps be carried toopposite faces of the back member or of the cover-boards, in immediatealternation, though such arrangement is preferred. The claims are to beread and understood in accordance with this statement.

What claimed is 1. A cover for books and binders, comprising a backmember; two cover-boards; and hinges connecting said cover-boards andback member, said hinges being formed of flexible material having aseries of separated bands passing across the outer face of the backmember in a. direction transverse thereto and a second series of bandssimilarly passing across the inner face of said back member, theportions of the flexible material lying beyond'the longitudinalboundaries of the back member being secured to the coverboards in anyconvenient manner.

2. A cover for books .and binders, comprising a back member; and twocover-boards connected therewith by asheet of suitable flexible materialtransversely divided in its mid-width portion to form bands betweenwhich the back member is held, alternate bands passing over the outerand the inner of said member respectively, the flexible sheethavingflapslying outside or beyond the longitudinal edges of the backmem her and serving asa means of attachment to said boards.

3. A cover for books and binders, comprise ing a back member; twocover-boards, a sheet of flexible material of width sufficient to coverthe back member and to extend outward beyond the longitudinal boundariesof said member a distance sufficient to form;

flaps by which to secure the sheet to the coverboards, the mid-portionof said sheet being transversely divided into bands ever and under whichthe back member passes in alternation; and means securing the flaps tosaid cover-boards.

4. A cover for books and binders, comprising a back member; twocover-boards; and a sheet of flexible material slitted in its midportionto form bands between which the back member is held, the lateralportions of the flexible sheet being each transversely slitted to form aseries of board-attaching flaps, some of which are carried to the outerand others to the inner face of the coverboards, and secured thereto.

5. A cover for books and binders, comprising a back member; twocover-boards, a sheet of flexible material divided in its mid-widthportion into separate sets of bands which re spectively extendacross theiimer and outer faces of the back member, said sheet extending outwardbeyond said bands to form flaps for attachment to the cover-boards, saidflaps being divided into separate sections which pass alternately to theinner and outer faces of the cover-boards respectively, and are securedthereto.

6. A cover for'books and binders, comprising a back member; twocov'enboards; and a sheet of flexible material secured at its lateraledges to the cover-boarifls and l'iaving its midwidth portiontransversely slitted to torm bands which pass alternately across theouter and inner faces of the back inen'iber, alternate bands beingdivided in the direction of the length of the back member, whereby thecr slit-ted bands may be opened outward from each other and one face ofthe back member laid upon the unsiitted hands, after which thecross-slitted bands may be laid upon the opposite face of the backmember.

7. A cover for books and ioose lea i binders, comprising a back member;two coverboards; and a sheet of flexible material of a width to extendacross the back member and beyond. the longitudinal edges thereof adismarginal portions or flaps of said sheet being similarly divided atpoints 'intern'iediate the dividing lines of the bands in the mid-widthportion of the sheet, the sectionsinto which the said flaps are thusdivided bei' passed alternately to the inner and outer far: is oi. theproximate cover-boards and made fast thereto. r

8. A cover for books and binders, comprising two cover-boards; anintermediate back member; and a flexible sheet transversely slitted inits mid-portion to form a series of bands which are passed alternatelyacross the to those flaps which pass to the outer faces 'ot theCOVG1'-b0L1(lS being in alinement with those bands which pass across theinner face of the back member, and those flaps which pass to the innerface'of thecover-boards being in alinement with those bands which passacross the outer face of the back member.

9. A cover for books and binders, compris mg two cover-boards; aninterinedlate back member; and a flexible connection between saidcover-boards having its opposite margmal portons secured to therespective coverboards and the intern'rediate portion divided from theinner edge'ot' one cover-board to the inner edge o't'the othercoverboard to form separate bands, of which successive bands passrespectively across the inner and outer faces of the back member andthus hold Said member in place. I a

10. A cover for books and binders, comprising two cover-boards; anintermediate back member; and a-flexible connection between saidcovcr-boards having its opposite marginal portions secured to therespective cover-boards, and the intermediate portion divided andcarried in part across the outer face and in part across the inner faceof the back member, and secured thereto 7 r In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification.

PAUL o. UNonn.

